The Atlanta Hawks turned a tight contest into a statement win, extending their home dominance in front of a fired-up crowd. Yankee Scores reports.
Okongwu and Johnson Deliver
Onyeka Okongwu and Jalen Johnson each scored 20 points, both recording double-doubles in the 112-102 victory. Okongwu added 10 rebounds, while Johnson pulled down 12 boards, marking his 45th double-double of the season. Their energy fueled Atlanta’s 13th straight home win, keeping momentum alive in the playoff chase.
The Celtics are TRAILING the Hawks 111-102 with 30 Seconds Left in the 4th.
📈 Brown is cooking with 25 Points, but Johnson and Okongwu both have 15+ Point Double-Doubles.
📉 Without Tatum, the Celtics have trailed by as much as 21 Points.#Truetoatlanta | #Differenthere pic.twitter.com/kp2q9bLwNk
— BallersCulture (@BallersCultureX) March 31, 2026
Celtics Fight Back but Fall Short
Boston’s lineup looked different this time, with Jaylen Brown returning from a two-game absence. He led the Celtics with 29 points and 10 rebounds, while Luka Garza chipped in 20 points and nine rebounds. Jayson Tatum, who scored 26 in Friday’s meeting, sat out for injury management. Despite Brown’s effort, the Celtics couldn’t overcome Atlanta’s decisive third-quarter surge.
The Turning Point
After a first half filled with 10 ties and nine lead changes, Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s deep three sent the game into halftime tied at 54. Atlanta carried that momentum into the third quarter, outscoring Boston 36-22 to build a 14-point cushion. The Hawks pushed the lead to 21 in the fourth, and although Boston cut it to eight in the final minutes, Johnson and Alexander-Walker sealed the win with clutch free throws.
Playoff Implications
Dyson Daniels, Okongwu, and Jonathan Kuminga returned to action after missing Saturday’s game, with Daniels contributing 18 points, five rebounds, five assists, and two steals. The Hawks’ victory reinforced their home-court dominance, while Boston’s loss highlighted the impact of missing Tatum in a critical matchup.
What’s Next
The Celtics will head to Miami on Wednesday night, facing a Heat team fighting for playoff positioning. Meanwhile, the Hawks travel to Orlando, aiming to extend their winning streak and strengthen their standing in the Eastern Conference.
